William corliss



H29. SAFES, BANK PHUi EC'HUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

I (No Model.)

W. oon rss.

BURGLAR PROOF SAFE.

"W Patented Jan.30,1 883.

I ah: tor: 1

AND RELATED DEWCES.

' UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

BURGLAR-PROOF SAFE.

SPECIEZEIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,314, dated January 30, 1883.

Application filedJune 27,1882. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I. WILLIAM OoRLIss, of .t he city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Proof Safes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

In an application for patentfor burglar-proof safes filed by me-December 30, 1881, and allowed January 4, 1882, I have described a means of strengthening spherical or spheroidal safes of cast metal, constructed as set forth in a patent granted to'me- March-25, 1873, No. 137,061, by inclosing in the casting a basket formed of bars of wrought-iron or other suitable tough but relatively soft metal. In that safe the shell or main part is formed of two parts joined in a plane passing through or near the center of the entire structure. I have now Worked out another construction of spheroidal safe, in which the entire main body of the safe is formed of one singleshell or casting,-.with

a suitable small opening or hole for the door. The shape of this new shell is spherical, with the portions near the top and bottom flattened. In one of these flattened portions is formed a hole of sufficient diameter to permit the introduction of the inwardlyopening door, which hole is subsequently closed by means of a head screwed in firmly. I prefer for facility of manufacture to vmake such opening thus closed by a screwed head not only at the top, but also at the bottom.

It will be observed that in the old form of safe as set forth in my above-mentioned patcut the ring-shaped joint formed in a plane necessitated a large increase of metal at that point in order to prevent the possibility of spl'wting or rendin'g it apart by means of wedges. In my present improved safe this joint is avoided altogether, and I am able to produce a safe of more uniform thickness and of increased strength. The joints of these openings have a cylindrical form, and, being in a nearly flat body of sufficient thickness, this construction precludes all'efiective use of wedges. The general construction of this planet safe is made the subject-matter of a separate application for patent.

The object of the present invention is to adapt the method of strengthening the casting or shell of the safe by means of a basket to this planet safe. This is accomplished by using a single basket of spherical or approxione. hole for the door at the equator of the structure; but by reason of the firm union of the basket with the cast-iron in which it is embedded such openings have no weakening c effect on the basket. The holes are comparatively small with relation to the respective curvatures of the body of the safe, so that they form practically round holes in a nearlyflat surface. 1 The surrounding metal is a continuous ring inclosing the head, and of a strength sufficient to resist all wedging forces. By reason of this condition a separation from the main body of the parts inserted to close said holes cannot be effected by wedging or any analogous process. The bars composing the basket are all properly bent before being put together, and in forming the basket the bars may simply be connected with each other by means of small wires,'so as to hold them 8 in their proper relative position while the metal is being cast around them; but in the most complete form of my invention I use three stout hoops to inclose the three openings in the safe-body, and I frame the entire bas- 9o ket upon these hoops, using them as a base for the operation. They also serve to firmly hold the parts together until finally confined by the metal cast around the basket. The hoops contribute great strength to the structure.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent whatIconsider the best means of carrying out the invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view .of the hoops encircling the three openings in their proper 100 relative positions. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a basket constructed according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a section of a part of a safebody constructed according to my invention.

Similar letters of referenceindicate the same parts inall the figures.

A is a stout hoop, of wrought-iron or other suitable metal.

B are parallel circles of bar-iron, preferably of round section. Those parallels which are between the horizontal planes passing through the top and bottom portions of the hoop A are cut open, and their ends are bent outward and secured in the holes in the hoop A.

O G are hoops, of iron or other suitable metal,

' at the top and bottom or'at the poles of the structure.

D are iron bars bent in the shapeof a halfcircle, but somewhat shorter. These barsare applied meridianwise to the outside of the structure formed by the parallels, and their ends are secured in'holes formed for the purpose in the ringsU. D are shorter 'bent bars, also applied meridianwise betweenithe bars D,

. but not reaching entirely up and down to the rings 0, so that the distance between the meridional bars over the whole surface is more nearly uniform than it would be if all the meridional bars were of full length. The parts -B-principally those which form complete circles-and the parts D may beconnected with the other parts, B and D, and with each'other by means of wires twisted'around them,'or in.

any other appropriate manner.

The basketthus'formed is introduced in the mold in which the safe-body is to be cast, and the melted metal, when poured into the mold,: flows around all-the parts of said'basket and strongly unites therewith. In the-drawings, E represents this castmetal.

In my above-mentioned application for patent, allowed January 4, 1882, I have given in detail a description of the means employed for successfully effecting an intimate union of the cast metal with thewrought-iron'basket-work embedded therein. The same means may be employed here. Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle of the invention.

The parts D may be omitted.

The number of parts B D D may be varied within wide limits, according to the dimen* sions of the safe to be constructed.

The castings for the door and for the heads to close the openings at the poles may be pro vided with basket-work, or may be simple castings; but I prefer the former construction, as making the entire safe more proof against the action of drills.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A spherical or spheroidal basket having one or more openings of relatively-smalldiameter, composed of parallelrings B and meridional rings or sections of rings D, and adapted to serve in' a spherical or spheroidal safe-body E, cast in one piece, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. A spherical or spheroidal basket having one or more openings of relatively small diameter,composed of parallel rings B and meridional sections of rings D and shorter sections D, interposed between the parts D, all combined and adapted to serve in a spherical safebody E, cast in one piece, substantially as and for the purposes hereinspecified.

3. 'In a burglar-proof safe, the basket having the rings A andG G, with a number of-the parallels'B and'the meridians D fastened therein, respectively, said rings serving as a base upon which to frame the entire structure, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have-hereon to set my hand, at Providence, Rhode Island, this 24th day of June, 1882, in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM YOORLISS.

Witnesses:

A. H. GENTNER, I SAML. T.=DOUGLAS. 

